Usain Bolt was only fifth quickest out of the blocks but was quickly into his running and stormed to victory in 9.63, the second quickest in history and an Olympic record.

Only Bolt himself has run quicker with his world record of 9.58 set in winning the world title in Berlin in 2009.

Reigning world champion and training partner Yohan Blake took silver in 9.75 to equal his personal best, with 2004 Olympic champion Justin Gatlin taking the bronze in 9.79.

The first seven men all broke 10 seconds, but the chances of all eight doing so for the first time ever were ruined when the unfortunate Asafa Powell, the third Jamaican in the final, suffered an injury shortly before the line and limped home in 11.99.

Bolt said he knew from his run in the heat he was in the right kind of form to win the title.

‘I was happy,’ he told BBC1. ‘When I went out in the first round I felt I could do this.